Portable-convertible cane,seat and gunrest



United States Patent Rufus Norman, North Little Rock, Ark. (6313 Butler Road, Apt. 110, Little Rock, Arkansas 72209) [21] Appl. No. 765,229

[22] Filed Oct. 4, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 1, 1970 [72] Inventor [54] PORTABLE-CONVERTIBLE CANE, SEAT AND GUNREST 9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

248/155 A45b 5/00 248/155, l55.1,155.2,155.3,155.4,155.8,188.8,188.9; 42/94 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,972,668 9/1934 Sheldon 248/1 55.2 2,587,543 2/1952 Smith 248/l55.5 2,933,754 4/1960 Winans..... 248/1 88.9 3,099,103 7/1963 Wright 248/1 88.8

Primary Examiner-Edward C. Allen At:orneySamuel Meerkreebs ABSTRACT: A sportsmans aid particularly having a central cane or support member forming a single leg for a foldable seat in one attitude, and when used as either a seat or cane, having a U-shaped handle pivotal to an upwardly opening position to provide a gunrest for the barrel of a rifle or the like.

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 I 3,544,051

Sheet 1 of2 W M MM JTTOE/VEY Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Sheet g of 2 mve/vme, flaws Menu/v 1 PORTABLE-CONVERTIBLE CANE, SEAT AND 'GUNREST When viewing sports events such as golf, soccer, etc., and/or when in the field hunting, the spectator or huntsman, after covering considerable terrain, must remain in one spot for a considerable length of time. In order to provide the spectator of sports a comfortable viewing position at golf matches, horse shows, etc., to assist him in walking over relatively rough and hilly ground, and to provide him with a comfortable rest position while waiting for deer, for example, to appear, the hunter to sight his firearm, the present invention is practical and desirable.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel foldable, portable seat including a canlike support forming a single support leg for the seat and including a cane-handle which is reorientable to a gun barrel rest for use while a hunter is either sitting or standing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel convertible seat, cane and gunrest as set forth above which is readily converted, rugged and satisfactory for the purposes intended and which is satisfactory and practical for the purposes intended.

These together with more specific objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the drawing forming a part thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective of the convertible seat showing it in a seat-forming "opened" condition;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical section taken on the plane of line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the plane of line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken on the plane of line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the "opened" convertible seat showing the cane handle converted to a rifle barrel support position;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the plane of line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the plane of line 7-7 of cane-forming, 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the seat in a closed" or folded, cane-forming, portable condition;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and first referring to FIG. 1, the foldable, convertible seat is indicated generally at 10 and comprises a etc. support member or leg 12, a foldable seat 14, and cane-type handle means 16.

The primary support member or leg 12 comprises an elongated tubular, outer sleeve element 18 produced from any suitable material, i.e. aluminum, plastic, etc. The lower end of element 18 is tapered at its lower end 20 terminating in a substantially spherical bearing element 22; see FIG. 4, in which is suitably mounted, for substantial universal movement a foot 3, and the handle element 42 is tapered at toward end 46 to be complimentary to flared portion 30 of the sleeve element 18.

Disposed for reciprocable movement and adjusted positioning by loosening or tightening wing bolt 38, is an elongated rod 52, the upper end 54 of which being disposed in socket 44. A transverse pivot pin 56 extends through handle element 42, above the tapered portion 50, and the rod 52 includes a transverse bore 58 through which the pin 56 extends.

Referring to FIG. 4, the rod 52 has fixed thereto an enlarged guide shoulder 60, generally conforming to the inner cross section of the sleeve element 18 and stabilizing reciprocable movement of the rod, as well as stabilizing various adjusted positions of the rod.

When the handle element 42 is rifle-rest in the positions shown in FIGS. 1, 2 or 7, the wing nut 38 is tightened and the open" or unfolded seat 14 can be readily transported; see FIG. I, or when folded or closed" as in FIG. 7, ready portability of the folded seat is permitted.

If the seat is open as seen in FIG. 5, and the device is to be converted to a rifle-barrel support and seat etc. the wing nut 38 is loosened, permitting the rod 52 to be pulled out of sleeve element 18 so the tapered portion 50 of the handle element is no multiheaded retained in the flared or socket portion 30 of sleeve element 18. When the handle is freed, the handle element 42 is free to pivot about pin 56, relative to the end 54 of rod 52; the socket 44 being relieved sufficiently at 44' to provide clearance for this pivoting. When the handle element is pivoted to the position shown at 16 in FIG. 5, the elongated socket will embrace the upper portion of rod 52, after pivoting 180 to the inverted position shown. The rod 52 can be adjustably positioned to any convenient distance out of sleeve element FIGS. land be retained in a fixed, adjusted position by lock bolt 38.

When using the device in a rifle-rest condition, the user straddles the seat 14, i.e. facing the inverted handle element 42 and the hinge-coupling of a rifle rests in the upwardly opening, inverted handle element. The rod 52 can be rotated in the sleeve element 18 as well as being adjusted as to length.

The seat 14 includes a substantially flexible saddle element 62 of substantially equilateral triangular configuration, when unfolded, being produced from a suitable canvas, plastic, etc. The apex portion 64 of the saddle includes a grommet 66 and the sleeve element 18 includes a laterally projecting, internally threaded sleeve 68. The grommet receives therethrough a multiheaded screw 70 retaining the saddle apex to the element 18. The head 72 is conical and forms an annular groove 74 element 24 having a lower, flat support surface 26 of relatively increased area. engageable foot element 24 accommodates the seat, cane or rifle support to different angles of the ground or a support surface.

The sleeve element 18 has suitably secured, above C-shaped tapered portion 20, an enlarged, angularly disposed plate 28 which will prevent the leg 12 from penetrating too far into relatively sofl terrain, for example.

The sleeve element 18 is terminally flared outwardly at its upper end 30; see FIG. 2, and includes a lateral, tapped sleeve 32 communicating with the interior of the sleeve element, and disposed below the flared portion 30. Suitably fixed in the sleeve 18 adjacent the tapped sleeve 32 is a bearing or guide ring 36 which is deformable, and a wing or lock bolt 38 which includes a threaded shaft 40 engageable with the sleeve 32 to apply inward lock pressure for a purpose to be described.

The cane-type handle means 16 includes a generally C- shaped or U-shaped element 42 of any suitable material having a socket portion 44 opening into one end 46. The socket portion 44 opens at one side as indicated at 48 in FIGS. 2 and with inner head 76.

The seat includes a foldable, tripod-type brace assembly indicated generally at 78 (FIGS. 1 and 5) when open or unfolded, and at 78 (FIG. 8) when'closed" or folded.

The brace assembly 78 includes a main strut 80 having a generally U-shaped FIGS. section; see FIG. I, terminating in a lower, bifurcated, hinge-coupling 82 embracing the sleeve element 18 adjacent the plate 28, and being pivotally retained thereat by a transverse, headed, pivot pin tripod support, see FIG. 4. FIGS. indicated at 80' because of the U-shaped cross section thereof, the strut can fold onto or embracingly engage the outer surface of the sleeve element 18 of the support or leg member 12; see FIG. 8, for example.

The main strut 80 includes at its upper end a pair of spaced plates; see FIGS. 1, 5, 7 and 8, outer and inner plates 86 and 88, respectively, which have extending therethrough spaced pivot pins 90 and 92 which are generally at right angles to the lower pivot axis of strut 80 as defined by pin 84. Fivotally mounted on pins 90 and 92 respectively, are the lower, flattened, apertured ends of supplemental struts 94 and 96. The supplemental struts 94, 96 are flattened at the outer ends and are suitably apertured, The corners 98 and 100 of the saddle 62 have grommets secured thereat, and retaining rivets 102 and 104 secure these ends 98 and 100 to the upper ends of the supplemental struts 94 and 96, respectively. The rivets 102 and 104, respectively, secure inner ends of straps I06 and 108 to the respective ends 98 and 100 of the saddle. The straps 106 and 108 have spaced therealong transverse slots 110 and 1 l2 engageable over head 72 in groove 74 to retain the saddle in its folded condition as seen in FIG. 8.

Briefly referring to FIG. 8, when the gunrest strut 80' is folded against sleeve element 18, the supplemental struts 94 and 96 will be folded toward each other about pins 90 and 92 to extend longitudinally from main strut 80' and substantially parallel to leg 12 when the seat is closed or folded.

To unfold the saddle 62' to the position shown at 62 in FIGS. 1 and 5, the straps 106 and 108 are detached from head 72 of screw 70, and the main and supplemental struts, 80, 94 and 96, will fold down to the tripod support, unfolded positions of F IGS. 1 and 5, and the saddle 62 will restrict them excessive pivoting.

In order to maintain the brace assembly in its unfolded position, a supplemental brace or lock strut 114 is provided between an intermediate portion of sleeve element 18 and plate 88 on the main strut 80; see FIGS. 1 and 7, for example. The brace 114 is hinged at its inner end 116 to the sleeve element 18 and can pivot into overlying relation onto the sleeve element 18 when the seat is closed or folded. The other end of brace 114 includes a terminal end 118 removably received in an aperture 120 in the plate 88. The brace 114 includes a lower shoulder or step l22-beneath the terminal end of 118 to abutingly engage the outer surface of plate 88. When brace 114 is folded onto sleeve element 18, it will be received within main strut 80' when it is folded to the position seen in FIG. 8.

I claim:

1. A portable, convertible seat, C-shaped and gunrest assembly comprising:

an elongated support leg member;

a tripod brace assembly pivotally connected to one side of said leg member;

a foldable saddle element connected to said brace assembly and said leg member;

said brace assembly and saddle element including claim for permitting the same to be folded and retained along the one side of said support leg member;

handle means at the upper end of said support leg member including lock means extendibly and rotatably mounting said handle means in adjusted relation on said leg member;

said handle means including a C-shaped handle element normally disposed in a downwardly opening position whereby the seat may be readily carried and used as a cane; and means pivotally mounting said handle element for gunrest movement to an upwardly opening position whereby a gun barrel may be rested thereon;

said support leg member comprising a tubular sleeve, said handle means including a rod element reciprocably supported in said tubular sleeve;

said means pivotally mounting said handle element comprising said laterally opening groove extending along one side of said handle element; and

a pivot pin extending transversely through said groove and a terminal portion of said rod element whereby said handle element will pivot about said rod element 180 and lay alongside said rod element when inverted.

2. The structure as claimed C-shaped claim 1 in which said lock means comprises a manually operable lock bolt mounted on said tubular sleeve and engageable with said rod.

3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said tubular sleeve includes an upper socket portion, said handle element including a portion, below said transverse pivot pin, telescopically received in said socket portion.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said leg member includes a lower, relatively broad foot element pivotally mounted on said leg member for substantial universal movement whereby the leg member can be disposed in different angular attitudes of support on varying terrain.

5. A portable, convertible seat, cane and gunrest assembly comprising:

an elongated support leg member;

a tripod brace assembly pivotally connected to one side of said leg member;

a foldable saddle element connected to said brace assembly and said leg member;

said brace assembly and saddle element including means for permitting the same to be folded and retained along the one side of said support leg member;

handle means at the upper C-shaped of said support leg member including lock means extendibly and rotatably mounting said handle means in adjusted relation on said leg member;

said handle means including a C-shaped handle element normally disposed in a downwardly opening position whereby the seat may be readily carried and used as a cane;

means pivotally mounting said handle element for pivotal movement to an upwardly opening position whereby a gun barrel may be rested thereon; and

means for retaining said assembly in a collapsed condition, said means comprising an element having an enlarged head projecting laterally from said leg member, said saddle element including flexible strap elements connected at one end to outer ends of said saddle element remote from said leg member, said strap elements including at least one transverse aperture whereby the strap elements can be circumposed about said leg member and engaged over enlarged head when said assembly is collapsed for maintaining the assembly in a collapsed condition.

6. A portable, convertible seat, cane and gunrest assembly comprising:

an elongated support leg member;

a tripod brace assembly pivotally connected to one side of said leg member;

a foldable saddle element connected to said brace assembly and said leg member;

said brace assembly and saddle element including means for permitting the same to be folded and retained along the one side of said support leg member;

handle means at the upper end of said support leg member including lock means extendibly and rotatably mounting said handle means in adjusted relation on said leg member;

said handle means including a C-shaped handle element normally disposed in a downwardly opening position whereby the seat may be readily carried and used as a cane;

and means pivotally mounting said handle element for pivotal movement to an upwardly opening position whereby a gun barrel may be rested thereon;

said tripod brace assembly comprising an elongated main strut pivotally connected at its lower end on a transverse pivot axis adjacent a lower portion of said leg member for movement toward and away from said leg member;

a pair of supplemental struts pivotally connected at lower ends to the upper end of said main strut for movement toward and away from each other and with respect to the longitudinal axis of said main strut; and

said supplemental struts being connected at respective upper end portions to respective spaced portions of said foldable saddle element, spaced from said leg member.

7. The structure as claimed in claim 6 in which said main strut has a substantially U-shaped cross section opening toward said leg member for embracingly engaging said leg member when the tripod assembly is collapsed.

8. The structure as claimed in claim 6 in which said brace assembly includes an elongated lock strut pivotally connected at one end to an intermediate portion of said leg member on a pivot axis transverse to said leg member, the other end of said lock strut being detachably connected to said main strut adjacent the upper end thereof said lock strut being foldable between said leg member and main strut when said tripod assembly is collapsed.

and terminal base portions connected to upper end portions of said supplemental struts. 

